Fly-catcher.



Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

TORN E YS.

m 6/ [NV NTOR.

N. B. HOLDSWORTH.

FLY CATCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1915.

m E m W NATHAN 2B. HoLDswonrH, or FORT WAYNE, Innm m.

FLY-CATCHER.

Specification 'ofILetters Iatent. Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

Application filed March 8, 1916. Serial No. 82,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN B. HoLDswon'rl-r, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort )Vayne, in

the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly-Catchers, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in fly catchers and the object thereof is to afford an instrument for killing flies by partially crushing them so that the napery 0r decorative surface against which the fly is crushed will not become soiled.

The object of the invention is accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the device with parts thereof shown broken away and in section; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the thrust-rod a portion thereof being shown broken away.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views and referring now to the same:

1 is a roller having at each end thereof a flange (2) there being an annular recess (3) around the central portion of the roller extending from one flange to the other. The roller is loosely mounted upon the end (4) of a thrust-rod (5), the end (4:) being bent to a position at right angles to the major portion of the rod. The rod (5) extends into a tubular handle (6) and isengaged by a retracting spring (7) one end of which is secured to a collar (8) on the rod and the other end being hooked or otherwise secured to the adjacent end of the tube as indicated by (9). The rod has also fixed thereon a disk (10) adapted to become engaged by a spring pressed trigger (11) that is mounted upon the tube, the hooked end (12) of the trigger passing through an opening (13) in the tube so as to contact with the disk. The extreme rearend of the rod (5) has also fixed thereon a collar (i4) that is adapted to strike against a spring stop (15), the latter being coiled loosely about the rod and secured in fixed position the fly partially crushing it.

I within the tube. The spring stop has an extension (16) that is hooked over the rear end of the tube to secure the stop in place. The forward end of the tube (6) has a cap (17) through which the rod passes loosely and which serves as a guide therefor.

In operating the device the roller is placed against an obstruction and the tube is driven forwardly so that the rod is moved into the tube to a point where the trigger engages the disk (10) and holds the rod in cocked position against the tension of the spring (7). The operator then holds the device by grasping the rear end of the tube with his thumb bearing lightly upon the trigger in readiness to release its connection with the disk. The roller is then rested lightly upon the surface of the table or other object and moved cautiously toward the fly to a point as close as can be reached without disturbing it. The trigger is then pressed which releases the disk so that the reaction of the spring suddenly thrusts the rod to its for- .ward position, the roller being passed over the recess in the roller it is not completely crushed so that no stains are left as a result of the operation. The impact of the collar Because of (14.) against the spring-stop eases the end of the forward thrust of the rod thus adding to the durability of the device.

WV hat I claim is I 1. In a device of the class described a roller having an annular recess, a thrust-rod having the roller mounted upon one of its ends, a tubular handle into which the rod extends, a retracting spring having connection at one end with the tube and at its other with the rod, a disk on said rod, and a trigger on the'handle adapted to engage the disk and hold the rod in cocked position.

2. In a device of the class described, a tubular handle,a thrust-rod extending thereinto, a roller at the forward end of the'rod, a retracting spring having connection with the tube androd and tending to move the latter in its forward position, a trigger on the handle, means in connection with the rod adapted for engagement with the trigger, a

spring-stop Within the handle, and a collar handle, and means in connection With the fixed on the end of the rod adapted to be red for engagement with the trigger. 10 engaged by the stop at the end of the for- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature, Ward'movement of the rod. in presence of two Witnesses.

' 8. In a device 'of'the class described, a re- NATHAN'B. HOLDSVVORTH.

cessed roller, a spring actuated thrust-rod Witnesses: carrying the roller, a handle in Which the MATILDA Mn'rrLnR, rod is movably mounted, a trigger'on the WQG. BURNS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five tSBRtS each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, D. 0. 

